Exhaust system for vehicle

ABSTRACT

An exhaust system comprises a pipe disposed in a vehicle, and a resonator and a muffler, both of which are combined together and have inner chambers communicating with each other and commonly disposed on the pipe. The exhaust system further has a support unit capable of restricting vibration amplitudes of the resonator and the muffler relative to the vehicle. Thus, the exhaust system effectively solves the problem that a welding portion of the conventional exhaust system tends to break, and prevents the combustion and horse power from encountering the nonessential influence.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the exhaust field for a vehicle, and more particularly to an exhaust system applicable to the vehicle.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

The vehicle is one of traffic tools. A good gas supply system needs to be used to provide the exploding combustion and horse power. The gas supply system is divided into the intake and the exhaust. No smooth intake can be provided when no smooth exhaust back pressure occurs.

Next, the basic principle of an exhaust system 10 will be introduced with reference to FIG. 7. An exhaust manifold 12 (also referred to as an exhaust head section), a catalytic converter 14, a resonator 16 and a muffler 18 are disposed on a pipe 20.

The exhaust manifold 12 has a diverging end and a converging end. The diverging end is connected to an engine (not shown), and the converging end is connected to the pipe 20. When the cylinder of the engine performs an intake operation and an explosion operation and generates the exhaust gas, the exhaust manifold 12 guides the exhaust gas into the catalytic converter 14.

The catalytic converter 14 has a normal working temperature ranging from 400 to 600 degrees, and uses precious metals, such as platinum (Pt), palladium (Pa) and rhodium (Rh), as the catalyst to convert the contaminants, such as hydrocarbon compound (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), in the exhaust gas into the harmless carbon dioxide (CO₂), water (H₂O) and nitrogen (N₂).

The exhaust gas flows in the pipe 20 at the high speed to generate sound waves, and the resonator 16 resonates with the pipe 20 to reduce the vibration amplitude. In addition, the muffler 18 is partitioned into different air chambers by staggered partitions to reduce the noise by the design of the reflected waves.

As shown in FIG. 8. the resonator 16 has two open ends 11. The muffler 18 has an input section 13 and an output section 15. The input section 13 and one of the two open ends 11 are welded together.

In FIG. 9, a welding portion 17 is a ring of metal material molten onto the outer surfaces of the input section 13 and the open end 11, and tends to break due to the vibrations of the resonator 16 and the muffler 18 so that the muffler 18 falls off the vehicle, When a tail tube is mounted behind the muffler 18, both of which commonly fall off, Thus, the exhaust system has no smooth exhaust back pressure, and the gas supply system does not have the smooth intake anymore, thereby seriously affecting the combustion and horse power.

Thus, how to improve the exhaust system is a subject to be solved by the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of this, the invention provides an exhaust system for a vehicle. The main objective is to adopt a support structure to restrict the vibration amplitudes of a resonator and a muffler relative to the vehicle, and to effectively solve the problem that the combination portion of the resonator and the muffler tends to break, and to prevent the combustion and horse power of the vehicle from being affected by the exhaust back pressure.

To achieve the above-identified objective, the invention provides an exhaust system comprising: a pipe disposed on the vehicle; a resonator and a muffler, both of which are combined together and commonly disposed on the pipe and have inner chambers communicating with each other; and a support unit, which restricts vibration amplitudes of the resonator and the muffler relative to the vehicle, and is implemented through one of the following modes.

The support unit of the first mode has two U-shaped rods, and two combination sheets fixed to the vehicle, and detachably and tightly fixed relationships between the combination sheets and end portions of the U-shaped rods are kept to support the U-shaped rods to fit with two sides of a combination portion of the resonator and the muffler.

The support unit of the second mode has a vertical plate and a horizontal plate. The vertical plate is fixed to the muffler. The horizontal plate is substantially perpendicular to and connected to the vertical plate. The horizontal plate is disposed beside a combination portion of the resonator and the muffler. An inclined plate is tightly fixed between the vertical plate and the horizontal plate. The inclined plate and the resonator are not disposed on the same side of the horizontal plate.

The support unit of the third mode is a pipe member. The pipe member is fit with an outer portion of a combination portion of the resonator and the muffler and cannot be easily detached.

The support unit of the fourth mode has a U-shaped rod and two jointing sheets. The jointing sheets are fixed to the vehicle. A detachably and tightly fixed relationship between each of the jointing sheets and an end portion of the U-shaped rod is kept to support the U-shaped rod to surround an outer portion of the muffler.

The support unit of the fifth mode has a U-shaped sheet and two combination portions. The combination portions are bent on two ends of the U-shaped sheet, and each of the combination portions is fixed to the vehicle to support the U-shaped sheet to surround an outer portion of the muffler.

The support unit of the sixth mode is a connecting member. The connecting member is composed of a connection section and two bent sections connected to the connection section. One of the two bent sections is tightly fixed to the vehicle and is detachable, and the other one of the bent sections is tightly fixed to an outside of the muffler.

No matter which support unit is used, the support unit can support the resonator or muffler of the pipe to restrict the vibration amplitudes of the resonator and the muffler relative to the vehicle, to effectively solve the problem that the combination portion of both of them tends to break, and to prevent the combustion and horse power of the vehicle from being affected by the exhaust back pressure.

Further aspects, objects, and desirable features of the invention will be better understood from the detailed description and drawings that follow in which various embodiments of the disclosed invention are illustrated by way of examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view showing a support unit adapted for an exhaust system according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view showing a support unit according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view showing a support unit according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view showing a support unit according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view showing a support unit according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a pictorial view showing a support unit according to a sixth embodiment of the invention

FIG. 7 is a simple configuration diagram showing a conventional exhaust system.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial view showing a resonator and a muffler of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a combination portion of the resonator and the muffler of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a specific structure of a support unit 22 according to the first embodiment, which may be used in an exhaust system 10 for a vehicle in conjunction with the exhaust manifold 12, the pipe 20, the catalytic converter 14, the resonator 16 and the muffler 18 of FIG. 7.

In the drawing, the support unit 22 is composed of two U-shaped rods 30 and two combination sheets 36. Each U-shaped rod 30 has two screw sections 32. The screw sections 32 are formed on different ends of the U-shaped rod 30, and several nuts 34 are screwed to the corresponding screw sections 32. Each combination sheet 36 has an arched configuration and two ends defined with fixing portions 38. Each fixing portion 38 is welded to the bottom portion of the vehicle, so that the combination sheet 36 is kept in a fixed state. The two screw sections 32 pass through the middle portion of the combination sheet 36, which is blocked by the nuts 34 to support the two U-shaped rods 30 on two sides of a welding portion 17 of the resonator 16 and the muffler 18.

In this embodiment, these combination sheets 36 are substantially parallel to a lengthwise direction of the resonator 16. In some embodiments, the combination sheets 36 are substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the resonator 16. No matter which orientation of the combination sheet 36 is, detachably and tightly fixed relationships between the combination sheet 36 and the screw sections 32 can be kept, and the nuts 34 can adjust the height of the U-shaped rod 30 to hang the welding portion 17 of the resonator 16 and the muffler 18.

Thus, the support unit 22 can support the total weight of the resonator 16 and the muffler 18, and further decrease the vibration amplitudes of the resonator 16 and the muffler 18 relative to the vehicle to effectively solve the problem that the two combination portions tend to break, and prevent the combustion and horse power of the vehicle from being affected by the exhaust back pressure.

FIG. 2 shows the second embodiment of the support unit 22, which can also be used in the same exhaust system 10 in conjunction with the exhaust manifold 12, the catalytic converter 14, the resonator 16 and the muffler 18 of FIG. 7 to restrict the vibration amplitudes of the resonator 16 and the muffler 18 relative to the vehicle. The difference therebetween resides in that the support unit 22 is in the form of a push-support structure different from the hanging mode of the first embodiment.

Specifically, the support unit 22 has an angle plate. The angle plate has a vertical plate 40 and a horizontal plate 42. The horizontal plate 42 is bent to a substantially vertical state relative to the vertical plate 40 and is welded to an inclined plate 44, which functions as a hypotenuse of the angle plate to construct the support structure. When the vertical plate 40 is welded and fixed to the muffler 18, the horizontal plate 42 is disposed beside the welding portion 17 of the resonator 16 and the muffler 18 and is sufficient to support the total weight of the resonator 16 and the muffler 18, and further reduce the vibration amplitudes of the resonator 16 and the muffler 18 relative to the vehicle. Of course, the inclined plate 44 and the resonator 16 are not disposed on the same side of the horizontal plate 42, and this can enhance the structural strength of the angle plate and share the partial load of the horizontal plate 42.

FIG. 3 shows the support unit 22 according to the third embodiment, which may be used in the exhaust system 10 the same as FIG. 7 to restrict the vibration amplitudes of the resonator 16 and the muffler 18 relative to the vehicle. The difference therebetween resides in that the support unit 22 adopts the restricting structure, which is different from the hanging mode of the first embodiment.

In brief, the support unit 22 is a pipe member 50. The pipe member 50 is fit with an outer portion of the combination portion of the resonator 16 and the muffler 18, so that an inner wall 52 surrounds the periphery of the welding portion 17. The pipe member 50 has two pipe openings, which are forced to deform to clamp or be positioned at the resonator 16 and the muffler 18 and cannot be easily detached from the resonator 16 and the muffler 18.

Thus, the pipe member 50 effectively solves the problem that the combination portion of the resonator 16 and the muffler 18 tends to break, to achieve the objective of improving the exhaust system, and prevent the combustion and horse power of the engine from being affected by the nonessential influence.

FIG. 4 shows the support unit 22 according to the fourth embodiment, wherein the structure thereof is substantially the same as the hanging mode of the first embodiment, and may be used in the exhaust system 0 the same as FIG. 7 to restrict the vibration amplitudes of the resonator 16 and the muffler 18 relative to the vehicle.

The difference therebetween resides in that at first, there is only one single U-shaped rod 30 of the support unit 22 working in conjunction with two jointing sheets 54.

Second, the two screw sections 32 pass through the jointing sheets 54, respectively, and are screwed with the corresponding nuts 34 to support the U-shaped rod 30 to surround the outer portion of the muffler 18 to provide the hanging function.

Furthermore, these jointing sheets 54 are screwed to or welded to the vehicle. A detachably and tightly fixed relationship between each jointing sheet 54 and the U-shaped rod 30 is kept, and the height of the U-shaped rod 30 still can be adjusted through the nut 34.

FIG. 5 shows the support unit 22 according to the fifth embodiment, which has the structure substantially the same as the hanging mode of the fourth embodiment, and may be used in the exhaust system 10 the same as FIG. 7 to restrict the vibration amplitudes of the resonator 16 and the muffler 18 relative to the vehicle.

The difference therebetween resides in that the support unit 22 has no U-shaped rod and jointing sheet, and only has one U-shaped sheet 60.

The U-shaped sheet 60 has two combination portions 62. Each combination portion 62 is bent on the end portion of the U-shaped sheet 60. The combination portions 62 are fixed to the chassis of the vehicle 19 by way of screwing or welding to support the U-shaped sheet 60 to surround the outside of the muffler 18.

FIG. 6 shows the support unit 22 according to the sixth embodiment, which is the same as the restrictive mode of the third embodiment and may be used in the exhaust system 10 the same as FIG. 7. The difference therebetween resides in that the support unit 22 is a connecting member 70. The connecting member 70 has a connection section 72 connected to two bent sections 74 to constitute a Z-shaped sheet.

Second, one of the two bent sections 74 is screwed to the vehicle and is detachable, and the other one of the bent sections 74 is welded and fixed to the outside of the muffler 18 to restrict the vibration amplitudes of the resonator 16 and the muffler 18 relative to the vehicle.

New characteristics and advantages of the invention covered by this document have been set forth in the foregoing description. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. Changes in methods, shapes, structures or devices may be made in details without exceeding the scope of the invention by those who are skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is, of course, defined in the language in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An exhaust system for a vehicle, comprising: a pipe disposed on the vehicle; a resonator and a muffler, both of which are combined together and commonly disposed on the pipe and have inner chambers communicating with each other; and a support unit restricting vibration amplitudes of the resonator and the muffler relative to the vehicle.
 2. The exhaust system according to claim 1, wherein the support unit has two U-shaped rods, and two combination sheets fixed to the vehicle, wherein detachably and tightly fixed relationships between the combination sheets and end portions of the U-shaped rods are kept to support the U-shaped rods to fit with two sides of a combination portion of the resonator and the muffler.
 3. The exhaust system according to claim 1, wherein the support unit comprises: a vertical plate fixed to the muffler; and a horizontal plate substantially perpendicular to and connected to the vertical plate, wherein the horizontal plate is disposed beside a combination portion of the resonator and the muffler.
 4. The exhaust system according to claim 3, wherein the support unit further has an inclined plate, the inclined plate is tightly fixed between the vertical plate and the horizontal plate, and the inclined plate and the resonator are not disposed on the same side of the horizontal plate.
 5. The exhaust system according to claim 1, wherein the support unit is a pipe member, and the pipe member is fit with an outer portion of a combination portion of the resonator and the muffler and cannot be easily detached.
 6. The exhaust system according to claim 1, wherein the support unit has a U-shaped rod and two jointing sheets, the jointing sheets are fixed to the vehicle, and a detachably and tightly fixed relationship between each of the jointing sheets and an end portion of the U-shaped rod is kept to support the U-shaped rod to surround an outer portion of the muffler.
 7. The exhaust system according to claim 1, wherein the support unit has a U-shaped sheet and two combination portions, the combination portions are bent on two ends of the U-shaped sheet, and each of the combination portions is fixed to the vehicle to support the U-shaped sheet to surround an outer portion of the muffler,
 8. The exhaust system according to claim 1, wherein the support unit is a connecting member, the connecting member is composed of a connection section and two bent sections connected to the connection section, one of the two bent sections is tightly fixed to the vehicle and is detachable, and the other one of the bent sections is tightly fixed to an outside of the muffler. 